Dilatation and Curettage - Overview

Dilatation and Curettage - Overview

Dilatation and curettage, also called as, D&C is a minor gynecological procedure, which involves dilating the cervix and curetting the uterine contents.

Dilatation and curettage, also called as D&C, is a common surgical procedure done on women to scrape and collect the tissue from inside the uterus. The cervical passage in a women leads to the uterus. "Dilatation" is a widening of the cervical passage. This is done using smoothly conical and tapered, graduated metal rods of various sizes and these are appropriately called the dilators. The gradually large metal dilators lead to widening of the tight cervical passage slowly.

Curettage ("C") is the second part of the procedure and is done to scrape the inside contents of the uterus. For this, a sharp spoon-like instrument called curette is used. The procedure is usually performed under general or regional anaesthesia.

Normal Anatomy of the uterus